Contents
One of the most popular fish among Russian anglers. There are reservoirs where only perches live. The size of the fish can reach more than 50 cm in length and about 5 kg in weight. The maximum size is registered at 6.5 kg. Large individuals live apart, but small and medium-sized fish can form huge flocks. Most often they live in small groups. The fish is unpretentious and can live in different ecological conditions: from large rivers to outlandish small lakes. Ichthyologists do not distinguish separate subspecies of perch, but it is known that in some reservoirs, due to feeding conditions, dwarf, slow-growing forms are formed.
Ways to catch perch
Perch actively reacts to almost all types of gear using animal baits or their imitations. Caught on float, spinning, bottom, trolling, fly fishing gear. In addition, perch is one of the main objects of fishing for winter gear.
Catching perch on spinning
Spinning perch is one of the most exciting and popular types of fishing. Spin fishing for perch is so exciting and popular that many anglers deliberately switch to catching this fish. This is an excellent object of fishing when fishing with light and ultra-light tackle. For this, spinning rods with a weight test of up to 7-10 grams are suitable. Specialists in retail chains will recommend a large number of different baits. The choice of line or monoline depends on the desires of the angler, but the line, due to its low stretch, will enhance the manual sensations from contact with biting fish. The reels should match the weight and size of a light rod. Perch are known for their pack hunting. On large expanses of rivers and reservoirs, anglers chase him in search of “boilers”. No less reckless is catching perch on a “popper”, on spills or near the coastline during the evening “drive hunting” for fry.
Fishing for perch with a float
Perch are often caught on float gear as bycatch to other fish. Wherein? it is quite possible to catch it purposefully. When fishing with live bait, you will need larger floats and hooks. Accordingly, the equipment will be more “rough” than when catching other medium-sized fish for a worm or bloodworm. Some local fishermen use the live bait method to catch trophy specimens. For long casts, rods with a “running rig” may be needed. For this, long “Bologna” gear is used. On small, overgrown rivers, “English rods” with inertial reels may be more useful. In stagnant waters, where perch predominates, it bites well on ordinary float gear using traditional worm-shaped baits. In all seasons, perch actively reacts to bait with animal additives.
Perch fishing with winter gear
Catching perch with winter gear is a separate chapter in fishing hobbies. The perch is active throughout the year, but in winter it is the most popular object of fishing. For fishing, the whole range of winter fishing tackle is used: from vents and float fishing rods to fishing rods for lure and “reelless”. The popularity of ice fishing for perch has given rise to various tournaments. Which, in turn, pushed the fishing industry, and therefore it is quite difficult to list all types of fishing rods and lures for fishing this fish.
Perch fishing with other gear
The perch is actively caught on various types of setting gear using a live bait bait. It can be various zherlitsy, zakidushki, donks, “circles”, lines and so on. Of these, the most exciting and exciting, justifiably, is considered to be fishing “on circles.” These methods can be used both in stagnant water bodies and in slow-flowing large rivers. Fishing is very active. Several gears are installed on the surface of the reservoir, for which you need to constantly monitor and change live bait. Fans of such fishing use a lot of devices for storing live bait and tackle. For example, we can mention special cans or buckets with water aerators to keep the live bait as long as possible. Large perch, along with zander and pike, are caught by trolling. Almost everywhere the perch actively reacts to fly fishing lures. In many regions, it is the main object of fishing, along with roach, for this gear. For fishing, traditional fly fishing gear is used, which is used to catch medium-sized fish that react to small baits. These are one-handed rods of the middle classes. In the case of using larger streamers, it is possible to use lines and rods of class 7. Perch are not very cautious, besides, fly-fishers often use sailing or heavy baits, and therefore lines with short “heads” are suitable for casting. The perch is perfectly caught on imitation of underwater invertebrates with the help of long-range casting rods equipped with rigging, such as a sinking “bombard” or “Tyrolean stick” and dozens of original gear.
Baits
Perch actively reacts to bait mixtures containing animal protein and additives from chopped worm, bloodworm, tubifex or maggot. Therefore, it often comes across as a “by-catch” when fishing for “white fish”. In winter, perch are fed with bloodworms. Attachment, both in winter and summer, are animal attachments, including larvae of terrestrial and underwater invertebrates. Perch react very rarely to vegetable baits. For fishing with artificial spinning lures, various oscillating, spinning lures are used; various combined baits, such as spinner-baits; silicone imitations of fish and invertebrate worms; surface baits and various wobblers. For fishing in a plumb line or “dragging” along the bottom, it is possible to use sheer lures, even in summer, such as balancers. In winter, in addition to a huge number of jigs, spinners and balancers, various “devils”, “goats”, “carrots” are used. Often, “nymphs” and “tricks” are hung from mormyshkas and spinners, on a leash. Depending on the conditions and time of year, perch will respond to most fly fishing lures that match the size of their food, from dry flies to streamers. It should not be forgotten that most of the diet of a medium-sized perch is made up of various invertebrates and their larvae, including worms. Imitations of these animals are most successful in catching the “striped robber”.
Places of fishing and habitat
It lives in the rivers of all Europe. Further, its range ends with Chukotka. There are reservoirs where perch is represented as the only species of ichthyofauna. Absent in the Amur basin, but acclimatized in some water bodies. The southern boundary of the habitat is located in the basin of the reservoirs of Iran and Afghanistan. The perch easily lends itself to acclimatization, therefore it is settled in Australia and other regions that are unusual for its natural habitat.
Spawning
Perch becomes sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years. Due to the presence of dwarf forms in many water bodies, it is difficult to distinguish adult fish from young ones. Spawns in February-June depending on the region. Lays eggs on last year’s vegetation. Spawning continues for two weeks, once. In case of unfavorable conditions, spawning may be delayed or, in general, females lay spawning until next year.